Pokémon: I’m Really Not a Team Rocket Spy

As expected, the moment Lance finished speaking, two figures appeared on either side of the battlefield.

"Are those people from your Dragon Clan?"

Maki pointed at the middle-aged man wearing a cape and striking a composed, aloof pose.

"How did you know?"

Lance looked a bit surprised, as he hadn't yet formally introduced the man to Maki.

"Well… it wasn't hard to guess."

Maki nodded thoughtfully. The outfit was nearly identical to Lance's future appearance—who wouldn't believe they're family with that kind of resemblance?

Among the thousand or so Master Ball level trainers, Maki couldn't possibly remember all of them, especially since the roster constantly changed. Masters could retire due to age or even perish in unexpected missions, both common occurrences. The only ones Maki truly remembered were prominent Elite Four members, like Agatha.

The other contender was introduced as Ayers, a rock-type specialist.

With his burly physique and simple training attire showcasing well-defined muscles, Ayers looked every bit like someone who spent all day working with rocks.

Don't misunderstand—this wasn't like Steven Stone's obsession with collecting and spiritually connecting with stones. No, this was pure, brute-force interaction. Maki thought Ayers' muscles might rival those of a Machamp.

From this, it seemed the Dragon Clan's representative was at a disadvantage. Everyone knew rock types had the upper hand against flying types.

Since it was only an exhibition match, the rules were simple: a 2v2 battle. Each side could send out two Pokémon at once, with no substitutions allowed even if one was knocked out.

As Maki predicted, the Dragon Clan trainer's first Pokémon was their signature Dragonite, accompanied by a Tropius—a clear sign of another flying-type master.

Choosing Tropius wasn't a bad decision, though. Given the opponent's focus on rock types, the grass-type Tropius held a slight advantage.

Ayers' lineup was less flashy. Facing a Dragon Clan member, he wouldn't dare act overly showy. His choices were Aggron and Rampardos—solid rock types, more honest than the flashy Dragonite and Tropius.

Neither side showed any particular synergy between their Pokémon, a common issue for trainers specializing in a single type. This wouldn't cause much trouble early on, but the disparity became evident in the later stages of battles.

After all, Lance himself was once held in check by Lorelei's ice types. None of his Pokémon could resist ice-type moves, and Dragonite was even four times weak to ice.

Both Pokémon the Dragon Clan trainer sent out shared the same crippling weakness to ice. On the other hand, Ayers' rock types had their own glaring vulnerabilities. Against a skilled water-type trainer, they'd undoubtedly struggle.

Maki knew that Cradily would have been an excellent choice for a rock-type specialist. With its rock/grass typing and Storm Drain ability, it could effectively counter many threats.

"So, who do you think will win?"

Seemingly intrigued by the match, Lance leaned closer and asked Maki.

"How should I know? At least let me watch for a bit before giving you an answer."

Maki shot Lance a look of mild annoyance.

"Relax, the Dragon Clan's representative will definitely win,"

Lance replied confidently. Perhaps it was the pride of the Dragon Clan speaking, but he firmly believed his uncle wouldn't lose a battle of this caliber, even in a friendly exhibition match.

"How about we make a bet? Since you're so sure your family member will win, I'll bet on the rock-type master."

A slight smirk appeared on Maki's face as Lance's excitement began to rub off on him.

"Sure! What's the wager?"

Lance's enthusiasm grew, and he eagerly played along.

"Forget about the wager—it's just for fun,"

Maki said, shaking his head. He wasn't interested in anything Lance had to offer. Even if there was something valuable, it would likely be a Dragon Clan secret that Lance wouldn't risk betting.

"No way! It doesn't feel right without a wager."

After a moment of thought, Lance suggested, "How about the loser treats the winner to a meal? Just something simple."

Maki didn't mind Lance's insistence and agreed to the suggestion.

Both sides were evenly matched, with neither team holding a definitive advantage. While Tropius' grass-type moves countered Rampardos, and Dragonite could learn Focus Blast—a four-times effective move against Aggron—the rock types were natural counters to flying Pokémon. Moreover, Dragonite's dragon- and flying-type moves would deal reduced damage to Aggron due to its steel typing.

The battle began, and despite their lack of speed, Ayers' rock-type Pokémon made the first move. Rampardos, known for its immense power, led with Rock Polish.

Those familiar with Rampardos knew its immense strength came with a tradeoff—its brainpower. Research showed that while its skull grew thicker post-evolution, its brain size actually decreased compared to Cranidos.

Though its name included "dragon," Rampardos wasn't a dragon type. Maki found that unfortunate. If it had wings and gained a flying type, he'd certainly recommend it to Lance.

With its massive hind legs, Rampardos lacked speed but compensated with raw power.

Meanwhile, Dragonite wasted no time, closing the distance with a rapid Dragon Claw aimed at disrupting Rampardos' setup.

However, Aggron stepped in, shielding its teammate. Its fist began to shimmer with ice crystals—it had Ice Punch. Ayers had clearly prepared for this.

Rather than directly clashing with Dragonite's Dragon Claw, Aggron used its armored body to absorb the attack before landing a devastating Ice Punch.

The moves struck simultaneously, but it was clear that Aggron got the better end of the exchange. Dragonite's claws barely left a mark on Aggron's sturdy armor, while the Ice Punch dealt significant damage to Dragonite.

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